Moors
and Christians (Moros y Cristianos),
refers to an important fiesta
which is celebrated every year
in many towns and cities in Spain.
Several municipalities in Castilla,
Andalucía, Murcia and Valencia,
have for hundreds of years, celebrated
the ‘liberation’ of
their town from Moorish or Muslim
rule with a solemn mass followed
by a procession.
These festivals,
which started in the 1500’s,
continued to be low-key affairs
and there are records which show
one such event in Orihuela in
1579. However since the Civil
War, these processions started
to get much more elaborate and
entertaining with the participants
dressed up in elaborate costumes
together with the re-enactment
of various battles and campaigns
between the Moors and the Christians,
which occurred during the period
known as the Reconquista (Reconquest)
which ranged from the 8th to the
15th century).
Today,
these festivals have developed
into spectacular events which
are a ‘must-see.’
They are always covered by the
various regional TV stations.
The main theme of the festival
is the capture of the city or
castle by the Moors and the subsequent
recapture (Reconquista) by the
Christians. The people that take
part in the festival are usually
enlisted in filas or comparsas
- companies that represent the
Christian or Moorish elements.
For example the Christian groups
may include representations of
Navarros, Almogávares,
Crusaders, Andalusians, Caballeros
del Cid etc., while the Moors
may have names such as Almoravids,
Almohades, Bedouin, Jews, Berbers,
Tauregs, Moroccans etc.
For
a number of days, several hundred participants
parade and battle with elaborate costumes loosely
inspired by medieval fashion. Christians wear
fur, metallic helmets, and armor, fire loud
muskets and ride horses. In contrast, Moors
wear ancient Arabic costumes, carry scimitars,
and sometimes ride real camels or elephants.
The soldiers belonging to the various factions
will be dressed in colourful and splendid matching
uniforms with weapons. The festival includes
gunpowder explosions, medieval music and fireworks,
and ends with the Christians winning a simulated
battle around a castle. This can be an actual
castle or an artificial one specially created
for the occasion.
Wednesday,
16th of July 2008 at 23:30 hours: In the Plaza del Ayuntamiento
(in front of the town hall). In the present of several
authorities, "Armengola 2008",
Christian´and Moor´Ambassador
and the festival committee, the
mayor of Orihuela presented to the public the
Glorious Oriol from the balcony
of the town hall. Afterwards big
celebrations in the different quarters
of the moors and christians.
Women
participate equally in the spectacle, many dressed
in attractive harem-style attire. Although historically
inaccurate, a custom has developed whereby many
of the men in costume (and some women) smoke
large cigars while parading. Otherwise, the
participants are expected to, and do remain,
in-theme for this truly spectacular event.
Music
plays a very important, although generally unappreciated,
part of the event. In the early 19th century music
was first composed specially for the event. Since
then there have been many new compositions which
help to announce certain parts of the fiesta or
the arrival of the various factions. Generally
the music is divided into three categories –
Marches of the Moors, Marches of the Christians
and Pasodobles.
Moors & Christians in Orihuela - The entry of the christians - 19th of
July 2008
Moors & Christians in Orihuela - The entry of the moors - 20th of
July 2008
Orihuela Costa Web Guide Information Costablanca Spain
